A/N: Sorry it took so long to update this but I was camping and it was crazy there. We didn't even have cell service. So here is chapter six… oh and I wrote this while I was camping and I didn't have internet to look up names so I used names from Avatar but I changed them when I got home, I think I got them all but if I didn't and you see one, please let me know.

Chapter Six

I found Rin in the study with Chieko, they were in the middle of a lesson. When I opened the door they turned to me. "Nicole! How did the meeting with Lord Sesshomaru go?" Rin asked.

I smiled and sat down next to her, "It went fine."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"What did Lord Sesshomaru want you for? Did he give you a new job because of what happened?"

I pretended to be insulted, "What? Why couldn't he have just called me to his office to talk?"

Rin just gave me a look and I chuckled, "Yes he gave me a new job." Rin deflated, "I still get to be your nanny, but there will be some more children coming to the palace and Lord Sesshomaru wants me to look after them as well."

Rin sighed in relief, "Good, I thought that maybe because of what happened Lord Sesshomaru might not want you to be my nanny anymore."

"I don't think he would do that… would he?" I looked at the two but they just averted their eyes. "Anyway let's get on with lessons, what are we learning about today Chieko-sensei?"

Later that night Rin and I were following our usual nighttime routine, I would lay with her in bed and tell her stories or sing to her until she fell asleep. Rin had insisted many times before that she was way too old for this, but I always just shook my head and told her I wished I still had someone to do this for me, and that would pacify her for the time being.

"Nicole?"

"Yes?"

"Will you sing me a new song tonight?"

"Hmm… I think you've heard all of my songs."

"Oh come on, Nicole, please!" Rin begged.

I laughed, "Well I suppose there is one song that you haven't heard. It was my favorite song when I was little, my aunt used to sing it to me… are you sure that you want to hear it? Like really really really sure that you want to hear it?" I teased.

"Yes please!"

"Alright hear it goes. 'Five little ducks went out one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said 'quack quack quack quack quack' and only four little duckies came back.'" The song went on until that last duckling had failed to return, " 'No little ducks went out one day, over the hills or far away. Mother duck said 'quack quack quack quack quuuuaaaccccck'…. And all the little duckies came back."

Rin yawned, "I like that song, at first I was sad because the little ducks kept getting lost. I thought they were never going to get back home… but they did."

I smiled and pulled the covers up closer around Rin, "Yes they did."

Rin nodded, "I can see why it was you're favorite song, I think it's mine to."

"I'm glad to hear it."

I thought Rin had fallen asleep when I heard a soft, "Nicole?"

"Yes, Rin?"

"Can that be our song, you know our secret song that no one else can hear?"

I smiled, this kid never ceased to amaze me with how childlike she could be when she acted so serious the rest of the time, "I love that, it can be our special song."

Rin yawned and nodded, snuggling down deeper into her blankets and soon she was asleep.

"Nicole! Nicole! Nicole! Come on! Get up getupgetupgetup!"

"Riiiiinn," I groaned, "what are you doing?"

"They're coming today, they're finally coming!" Rin said as she pulled the curtains away from my window to let the morning light pour in.

"What?" I asked pulling the covers over my head.

That didn't last long because she ripped my blankets away, it was amazing how strong the eight year old could get when she wanted something, "Today! The other kids are coming today!"

Deciding I had no choice but to get up, I slowly got out of bed and started getting dressed, "I seem to remember a certain little girl, not gonna name any names, telling me that she wasn't at all excited to have other children running around."

Rin stuck out her tongue at me, "Well I changed my mind."

"Obviously," I laughed.

Rin started pushing me towards the door, "Come on, let's go."

"Rin I haven't even done my hair yet, it's not like they're going to disappear. They might not even be here yet. Just calm down and wait, once I'm finished getting ready we'll go see if they're hear yet, okay?"

Rin pouted, "Okay." She sat on my bed, I could tell she was trying to be patient but she was failing miserably at it. She couldn't sit still, her legs were constantly swinging her legs, and staring at the door. I couldn't contain my laugh but I didn't say anything.

When I was finally done getting ready Rin all but dragged me down to dining room, that's where we found Jaken trying to eat his breakfast. "Master Jaken!"

The imp jumped and dropped the food he was about to put in his mouth, "Ahh! Rin don't you know better that to yell at people while they're eating?!"

"Sorry Master Jaken," she didn't sound at all sorry, "Master Jaken do you know if the guests are here yet?"

"No they're not here yet, they're not due to arrive until the afternoon," Jaken told us and then started mumbling about human's bad manners.

"Oh."

Rin sulked all through her meal after that. And she didn't cheer up when Chieko-sensei told her that lessons were cancelled until the guests left. Rin didn't cheer up until Hotaru came to tell us that we were wanted at the front doors.

Once we got there we were made to stand on the right side of the doors, Lord Sesshomaru wasn't there yet and I was beginning to wonder where he was or if he was even going to come to greet the guests when they arrived.

"Lord Sesshomaru is attending to some last minute details, he will be here before the guests arrive," Jun said coming up behind us.

I looked at him, "What? I-I wasn't-"

"Yes you were."

I was surprised at both Jun and myself. Had I really been that obvious and had Jun really noticed? I didn't have time to ponder it long because true to Jun's word Lord Sesshomaru entered the hall. I felt my heart beat quicken, this is my first time seeing the man since the night I had thanked him. I followed him with my eyes and was surprised once again when he crossed behind me, even going so far as to brush me with his arm as he positioned himself on my right side. I had figured that he would have stood a little ways away but that apparently was not going to be the case.

"Stand up straight!" Jaken said urgently "We don't want them to think we are uncivilized cows. You're personality effects what people think about Lord Sesshomaru," he must have walked him with Lord Sesshomaru but I didn't notice.

I nodded to him and put my hands on Rin's shoulders from behind, she straightened her posture at my touch but didn't stop bouncing on the balls of her feet. We all stood in silence as we waited. And waited. Until finally one of Lord Sesshomaru's guards from the front gate opened the doors.

"Let me present Lord Isao, Lord of the North and of the cougar demon tribe, and his family." The guard announced formally.

The groups bowed in unison to each other. "Welcome." Lord Sesshomaru said emotionlessly.

Lord Isao laughed heartily, "As dull as usual I see Lord Sesshomaru." Lord Isao's voice was warm and kind, I liked him already.

"Indeed," was Lord Sesshomaru's only response.

"Oh! Silly me, let me introduce you to my family," Lord Isao motioned his family forward, although, just from the few minutes I'd known them it didn't look like all the children were his. I had heard of demons having many kids so I wasn't at all surprised to see five children in was more that only one little boy actually looked like the Lord of the North.

"This," Lord Isao said putting his arm around a very lovely woman, "is my wife, Emi. And this," he put his hand on a little boy's shoulder, "is my son Yuu."

"What about the other kids?" Rin asked.

Lord Isao laughed, "Ah yes, these are admittedly not my children, but they are some of Yuu's best friends and I think of them as my family so I thought I would bring them along. This is Arata and Sho, and Kiku and this is Takara," he said pointing to each kid in turn, who then waved.

"Indeed," Lord Sesshomaru said again.

"Not to be rude, my Lord, but we were expecting more company to come with you," Jun told Lord Isao.

Lord Isao laughed again, "Yes well, they decided that we could handle things on our own."

"Really?" Jun asked.

Lord Isao nodded, "To be truthful, there's been quite a bit of fuss in the North. My advisor had cautioned me against coming here at all, but I decided that this meeting needed to happen. So I left the others in my wake, hopefully them being there will be enough to settle things. But even so I am afraid I might not be able to stay as long as I had initially planned. I am truly sorry for any inconvenience this might cause you Lord Sesshomaru."

Lord Sesshomaru nodded and then motioned to Rin, "This is Rin, my ward, and that is her nanny, she will be taking care of your children during your stay."

Lord Isao smiled at us, "Hello."

We bowed our heads, "Hello."

Lord Isao looked down at the children, "Well, what do you say children do you want to go play with Rin and- uh,"

I bowed my head again preparing to answer but-

"Nicole."

My head shot up to look at Lord Sesshomaru, his face was still as impassive as ever, he didn't even so much as look at me. If I hadn't been careful I'm sure my mouth would have fallen open at the fact that was the first time he had ever spoken my name. And at the shock that it sent through me.

"Nicole," Lord Isao said smiling at me, getting my attention to turn back to him. I nodded at him still too stunned to speak, "Well children?" The children looked at us, almost like they were inspecting us. Considering if we were good enough to play with or not, but finally they smiled and nodded looking up at Lord Isao. "Well go on then."

And suddenly Rin and I were surrounded with talking, chattering children with lots of energy.

"Nicole."

Another shock, "Yes my Lord?"

"You are dismissed."

"Yes my Lord." I bent down so I was eye level with most of the children, "What do you say? Shall we go play in the garden?"

"Yeah!" They all cheered.

"Come on then," I said smiling at them.

I placed a hand on Rin's shoulder and led them out of the hall.

"Nicole! Nicole! I bet you can't get me!" Arata yelled as I chased the children. We were playing tag, Lord Isao's children and Rin had made fast friends. It warmed my heart to be finally playing with other children besides that one time with Shippou. She needed a friend other than me, friends her own age.

"I bet I can!" I said taking off after the little boy. The children squealed as I came barreling towards them. The boy picked up speed and I couldn't even come close, so I chose one of the closer children as my prey. Finally I tagged Kiku, "Gotcha."

"Ahh!" Kiku screamed and them she laughed and started chasing the other kids.

"I-I've got to take a break, you guys go ahead and play without me. I'll be sitting over there."I called to them. They all stopped.

"Aw, why do you have to quit playing?" Arata asked.

"I'm not quitting forever, I'm just tired so I'm going to go sit over there until I catch my breath." I explained to the child.

"You're tired already?!" Takara asked.

"You forget Takara," Sho scoffed, "she's only a human."

I was taken aback, he sounded so hateful just then, but we had been having so much fun. "What's wrong with being human?"

"Well," Sho started, "every demon knows that humans aren't as smart or as strong as demons."

I had heard this before, when I had first met Jaken and Rin and they had explained to me the ways of this world. It irked me that demons could be so close-minded, but I turned my attention to Rin, she looked hurt. "Now you listen here, while that can be true I don't think that is necessarily true for everyone."

"But-!"

"No buts, and even if humans can't be as fast or as strong as demons that doesn't mean that you can just say whatever you want and hurt people's feelings. Look you insulted Rin, did you want to do that?"

Sho looked down, "No…"

"Right. Humans aren't born with the same powerfulness that you all possess, but that is not our faults and we shouldn't be blamed for that. I can't stop you from doing it at home but as long as you are here, you will not say things like that. Understood?"

"I understand," Sho said looking exactly like a scolded child.

I looked at the others and they nodded. "Good, now are you all going to play tag or do you want to do something else?"

"Oh Nicole will you tell us one of your stories?!" Rin asked.

"Stories?" Yuu asked.

Rin turned to him, "Yeah Nicole tells great stories!"

I laughed, "Well I could tell you a story, if everyone wants to hear one." I waited until I got confirming nods from everyone before I made myself comfortable among the flowers in the garden, "Come on, sit down and listen close. I will tell you the story of Cinderella." Everyone got settle in and I started, "Once upon a time…"

When I finished I looked at the kids to gauge their reaction to the story. Kiku was looking into space dreamily, as was Arata and Rin. The rest of the children, however, were pretending sword fighting. Okay so I may have changed the story a little, so the stepmother and sisters turned into hideous monsters that the Prince and Cinderella had to slay. But I didn't think the fairy tale would hold the boy's attention if I just told the sappy love story version. Soon the children were all talking about the story.

"See I told you she was a good story teller," Rin told them.

"Yeah, she was," Arata agreed.

It made me feel good to hear the children complimenting me but as I looked at the sky I had a horrible realization, I hopped up, "We're late for dinner!"

"What?" the children turned to look at me.

"Dinner's probably already been served, oh no! Lord Sesshomaru is going to be so angry! Come on guys let's go." I turned and rushed them to the dining hall.

I had been right dinner had already been served and everyone was waiting for us, Rin and I were panting from running all the way there. I bowed as low as I could, "I am so sorry! It's my fault that we were late, I wasn't paying attention to the time. I sincerely apologize, please do not let this incident shape your opinion of Lord Sesshomaru in anyway. It was entirely my fault. Please forgive me."

Lord Isao and his wife chuckled, "Dear, we don't mind, we didn't wait long anyway," Lady Emi assured me.

"Yes," Lord Isao, "it hopefully just means that the children were having so much fun they didn't want to stop. Right children?"

"Yeah!" They all said.

"Nicole and Rin are really fun to play with!" Arata told the Lord of the North.

"We played tag!" Takara put in.

"And Nicole us a story!" Sho said.

"Yeah it was the best story I ever heard!" Yuu told them.

"It was called Cinderella!" Kiku commented.

The Lord and Lady laughed again, "We are glad to hear that, now come sit down so you can refuel yourselves after all that playing."

"Okay!" The children quickly took their seats. Rin and I took our seats also and we all started to eat. I couldn't bring myself to look at Lord Sesshomaru throughout the whole meal, I was afraid that I disappointed him by being late. And it just had to happen when he had guests over.

After dinner the children changed into their night clothes and then I took them to Rin's room, "Okay you guys can stay in here for a little while but then you all have to go back to your rooms. Okay?" They all nodded in agreement, "Good, what do you guys want to do now?"

"Can you tell us another story?" Kiku asked.

I grinned, "I suppose I could, do you all want to hear another story?"

After a round of 'yes please's I asked, "Okay then. Rin, do you have a story you want to hear?"

"My favorite story is Little Red Riding Hood."

"Mine too. But do you think that's too scary for a bed time story? I mean it does have the Big Bad Wolf in it."

"It's not too scary," Rin giggle.

"Are you sure?" Rin nodded. "I don't know… what about you guys, would you be scared of the Big Bad Wolf?"

They shook their heads, "Don't be silly. We're demons we're not scared of anything," Yuu said puffing out his chest.

"Okay… if you say so."

I told the story making the Big Bad Wolf as scary as I possibly could and was rewarded with screams and giggles at the right parts of the story. And at the end everyone clapped.

"Thank you, thank you," I laughed.

"That was a really good story too!" Arata told me.

"Good I'm glad you liked it. And now you all have to go to bed."

"Awww! Do we have to?" Takara whined.

"Yes you have to," I told them, "don't you want to be really awake to play more tomorrow?"

"Yeah I guess so," Takara said dejectedly.

"Nicole?"

"Yes Rin?"

"Will you sing us a lullaby first?"

"Well… I guess I could. Which lullaby do you want to hear?"

Rin looked at the other children, "Can you sing our special lullaby?

I blinked, "You want me to sing our secret lullaby?" Rin nodded. "If I sing that it won't be a secret anymore, you know that right?"

"Yeah, that's okay. They're my friends it can be all of our special song."

I looked at the other children, "Okay if I sing this to you guys, you have to promise never to sing this around anyone but each other okay? And you can't tell another person about it, okay?" the children nodded eagerly. "Alright… Five little ducks went out one day…"

They were all asleep before I got to the fifth little duck. Then I took turns carrying every one of them, except Rin, to their rooms and then went to my room to get some much needed sleep.